CONGRESS

'Tentative' Payroll-Cut Deal Is Reached

Plan still needs to be finalized, but support seems solid.

Congress has reached a tentative agreement to extend an employee payroll-tax holiday as well as federal unemployment benefits and a Medicare pay fix, according to senior House and Senate aides.

A senior House aide familiar with the talks said that House lawmakers, who met Tuesday evening, have tentatively OK'd the deal. Under the plan, a 10-month extension of a payroll-tax holiday will not be paid for. The deal will result in a conference committee report that both chambers are expected to pass this week.